Like bonsai trees? There's a club for you

Thursday

When someone mentions the ancient art of bonsai, some may think of “The Karate Kid” and Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel-san the craft of tree clipping.

Though the New London-based China Trade Bonsai Society takes bonsai seriously, its members also know how to have a good time while honing their craft. In fact, their annual Bonsai and Asian Arts Festival at Connecticut College in New London is full of storytelling, music and color.

“It’s an art show, but it’s not an art show. You don’t have to whisper,” said member Susan Carucci of Killingworth. “You can walk up and ask questions if you want to. This isn’t some thing where you just watch someone write on a chalkboard. It’s very interactive.”

Its Beginnnings

The organization was founded in 1998 as an offshoot to classes taught by the late Val Gallagher in New London, a bonsai enthusiast. The society meets once a month, but members also attend shows and hold demonstration for nonmembers.

Gallagher died two weeks before Carol Gazso of Montville was scheduled to begin taking classes with him. The classes were a Christmas gift from her husband. Gallagher’s students carried on teaching about bonsai, and Gazso has been part of the club ever since.

“I took up the interest as a kid because I just loved the little trees,” Gazso said. “I’m a gardener — I have that in my blood — and I learned that bonsai isn’t just growing trees; it’s really an art and a science.”

Classes and meetings of the society often include demonstrations and “field trips” to bonsai collections or shows. Skill levels vary from novice to near-expert and, at meetings, everyone is welcome.

“We are a very informal club, offering lectures and workshops from talented artists from all over regionally, as well as internationally,” said the club’s president, Tom Lee of Clinton. “Our club was organized to promote the learning of this art of horticulture care and styling of these trees.”

Lee, who was a founding club member and a student of Gallagher, said he too developed an interest in bonsai as a child, but he only began to practice it as a hobby 10 years ago.

Worldwide Love

Though Connecticut may not seem the most likely place for bonsai enthusiasts to congregate, Lee said bonsai lovers are worldwide. One large event he attended, the fifth World Bonsai Convention, attracted 900 people from all over the world.

His club’s festival, held each June, includes Japanese storytellers, music and lots of bonsai.

“This festival blends the bonsai art with many of the complementary literary Asian arts to give a truly unique experience,” he said.

So what exactly does one learn as a student of bonsai?

Gazso said she’s learned about each style of tree, how to keep them alive, and about what caring for the bonsai really means.

“I really do love it,” she said.

Other topics include how plants should be handled during each season, and how to prune the trees. Demonstrators often advise those just learning bonsai that it’s inevitable they’ll kill a few trees while practicing.

“I’m not OK with that, though. It’s against my nature,” Carucci said. “I used to do hair, and people compare it to that a lot, but it’s different. With hair, you design what’s there to be there. With bonsai, you learn what to take away to leave what should be there.”